The Stewart Valley Seniors Centre Club presented a cheque of $500 to the Swift Current Royal Canadian Legion Branch #56 building fund on Nov. 27. From left to right, Seniors Centre Club founding member Shirley (Clifton) Van Kannel, Swift Current Legion Second Vice President Rodger Ruf and Seniors Centre Club Secretary Brian Knight.Photo by Matthew Liebenberg

The Stewart Valley Seniors Centre Club made a donation of $500 towards the major renovation work at the Legion Hall in Swift Current.

Club Secretary Brian Knight and founding member Shirley (Clifton) Van Kannel presented the cheque to Swift Current Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 56 Second Vice-President Rodger Ruf on Nov. 27.According to Knight, there are 150 veterans from the Stewart Valley area who have served in different wars since the early 20th century, including the South African War (1899 to 1902), the two world wars and most recently in Afghanistan.“We have many veterans, past veterans, men and ladies, that have served overseas and served for our country to give us what we have today,” he said. “We just thought it very fitting to support the Swift Current Legion in their building fund and our committee and executive and community decided to go forward with a donation to this project.”The Stewart Valley Senior Centre Club was established about 23 years ago. This donation towards the Swift Current Legion was made from their general income that is funded through memberships and bingos.“Swift Current is our nearest centre with the Legion and this is the one we'd be naturally supporting,” Van Kannel said. “We remember our veterans and there’s bound to be some in the future as well. We would like to see the Legion keep going.”The club is active, even though it has experienced a gradual decline in membership since 1990. It started with 72 people but there is currently about 45 members.“We have residents that have moved back to Swift Current that are still active members out there,” Knight said. “They come out regularly.”Van Kannel added the club is a central meeting place for seniors in the area and there is no other entertainment. The club is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, and members can play a variety of games, including shuffleboard and pool. The club has a potluck the first Friday of every month and a cash bingo on the third Friday of every month. She said it is the busiest place in Stewart Valley.“Even busier than the school,” she laughed. “We’re kind of proud to keep it that way.”The Swift Current Legion’s Second Vice-President Rodger Ruf expressed his appreciation for the financial support from the Stewart Valley Seniors Centre Club.“It’s really good,” he said. “Any extra dollars that we can get from any community, we’re willing to accept it and use it to the best that we know how.”The Legion Hall building fund is currently at about $100,000. In addition to cash there are commitments of building supplies and labour.Repair work on the rear portion of the building’s roof is scheduled to start soon and will probably be completed before Christmas. The roof is leaking and it must be repaired before any interior renovations can be done. It will include replacement of the old furnace and air conditioning roof unit.“The furnace and air conditioner are here and we’re also OK’d to insulate the ceiling in the hall, because it’s got no insulation in there,” he said. “So instead of the suspended ceiling we’re going with insulating the roof in the hall.”Fundraising for the Legion’s building fund will continue as the organization still needs an additional $400,000 to carry out all the planned renovations.“All we can do is do the work as we get the money and hopefully we’ll be able to do all the work we want,” he said.Ruf said the Legion will welcome any suggestions from individuals and groups that want to get involved with the Legion to raise funds for the renovations.“Hopefully people will get on board with the donations,” he mentioned. “We’ll accept any donations. We won’t turn anybody away and if they somehow can come up with an event to help us, bring it on and we’ll have a look at it and see how it works out.”